Representing animation artists, writers and technicians since 1952.

Did you lose your job because of COVID-19? Are currently unemployed and having a difficult time finding work? Are you unable to work because you have young children at home and no childcare? Are you sick with COVID-19 and do not have enough paid sick leave? There are several resources available to you.

The new CARES Act is providing additional relief to workers and those who may not normally qualify for unemployment benefits through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) programs.

Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC)

From the date the bill is signed through July 31, 2020, all regular UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claimants will receive their usual calculated benefit plus an additional $600 per week in compensation.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

The CARES Act also provides an additional 13 weeks of state UI benefits, which will become available after someone exhausts all their regular state UI benefits. All but eight states offer 26 weeks of UI benefits.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides emergency unemployment assistance to workers who are left out of regular state UI or who have exhausted their state UI benefits (including any Extended Benefits that might become available in the future). Up to 39 weeks of PUA are available to workers who are immediately eligible to receive PUA. The program will expire on December 31, 2020, unless otherwise extended. Applications will begin to be processed on April 28, 2020.

The California Employee Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim. DI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.

If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional), you can file a Paid Family Leave (PFL) claim. PFL provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.

Additional resources to help you file a claim

Are you still have trouble filing for benefits?

Helping Entertainment Labor and Professionals (HELP), a new program underwritten by Legendary, will provide a free legal assistance program for displaced entertainment workers designed to help them correctly fill out those forms and tap into whatever funds are due them under the federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act. The Organization is hosting informational webinars along with backup from pro-bono lawyers when needed. Learn more here.

Frequently Asked Questions

A: The very last day you worked and your very last employer. The EDD is just looking for the last physical work for the claimant on the last physical work day.

Q: Which box should I check? Regular UI or Disaster Relief UI?

A: Check the Regular UI box. Disaster relief is for other types of disaster aid, not associated with Covid-19

Q: What is the best separation reason if I’m laid off because of Covid-19?

A: There are a couple of options that come up, including Contract Ended and Laid Off. EDD recommends you use Laid Off – whether it’s because work ended or due to Covid-19. Their reasoning: When you fulfill a contract, you are laid off.

Q: My benefits say zero when I filed regular UI. What should I do?

A: EDD indicated not to worry. Once all the programming is in place, they will reach out to you, send letters and set up interviews with everyone who meets the requirements. They make many efforts to get you in the correct program.

Q: I worked in California and in another state. How do I file?

A: EDD indicated that you should contact them to discuss further. They can see your information from the other states and determine how to file. They apologize for the long waits to speak with someone. But you have to talk with them so they can help you.

Q: All my wages came from another state but I live in California. Do I file here?

A: Yes. File in California to get the claim going. They will contact you if more information is needed. It’s not the responsibility of the claimant to know which benefits they qualify for or how to handle incomes from other states. That’s the job on the EDD.

Q: I had an open claim pre-pandemic and now I’m laid off. What should I do?

A: It depends on your regular claim and if it still has benefits available. Most likely you will go into the extension period and you will get the additional $600/week in benefits. A regular claim is 26 weeks and the extension is 13 weeks. The PUA benefit is a straight 39 weeks.

Q: Is there a difference in how you apply or how you report your income if you’re incorporated as a loan out?

A: EDD recommends you just apply for regular UI.

Q: Entertainment industry workers have to list all employers for the last 18 months. If I forgot one what do I do?

A: The EDD will send a list of who they have as your employer and you can correct that list by mailing it back. It might not change your claim if you’re at the maximum benefit already.

Q: If I haven’t received my last check due to the shutdown and don’t know how much I made, how do I answer last pay questions?

A: When you receive your check, log into your online account and report the pay to EDD.

Q: How do you calculate the weekly hours and hourly rate if you receive flat fee service payments?

A: EDD says you have to do your best. Take your best “guestimate.” 10 days = 2 weeks. 7 days = 5 days of work.